Desperate Faith Series

Introduction:

A. I read a story about a little girl named Tess went to her bedroom one day and pulled her glass jelly jar bank from its hiding place in the closet.

1, She poured all the change out on the floor and counted it carefully.

a. After placing the coins back in the jar and twisting on the cap, she slipped out the back door and made her way to drug store down the street.

2. She waited patiently for the pharmacist to give his attention to her, but he was too busy talking to a well-dressed man.

a. Tess made a scuffing noise with her feet, but the pharmacist didn’t acknowledge her.

b. Tess loudly cleared her throat, but still no response.

c. Finally, she took a quarter from her jar and banged it on the glass counter. That did it!

3. “And what do you want?” the pharmacist asked in an annoyed tone of voice. “Can’t you see I’m talking to my brother from Chicago whom I haven’t seen in ages?”

a. Young Tess answered back with the same annoyed tone: “Well, I want to talk to you about my brother. He’s really, really sick... and I want to buy a miracle.”

b. “I beg your pardon?” said the pharmacist.

c. Tess continued, “My brother has something bad growing inside his head and my Daddy says only a miracle can save him now. So how much does a miracle cost?”

d. Softening a little, the pharmacist said: “We don’t sell miracles here, little girl. I'm sorry but I can't help you.”

e. Tess replied, “Listen, I really need a miracle and I have the money to pay for it. If it isn’t enough, I will get more. Just tell me how much it costs.”

4. The well-dressed man, who was the pharmacist’s brother, stooped down and asked the little girl, “What kind of a miracle does your brother need?”

a. Tess replied with her eyes welling up with tears, “Mommy says he needs an operation, but my Daddy can’t pay for it, so I want to use my money.”

b. “How much money do you have?” asked the well-dressed man from Chicago.

c. “One dollar and eleven cents,” Tess answered barely audibly.

d. “Well, what a coincidence,” smiled the well-dressed man, “A dollar and eleven cents is the exact price of a miracle for little brothers.”

e. He took Tess’s jar of coins and said, “Please take me to where you live. I want to see your brother and meet your parents. Let's see if I have the kind of miracle you need.”

5. That well-dressed man was Dr. Carlton Armstrong, a neuro-surgeon.

a. To make a long story short, Dr. Armstrong was able to do the operation without charge and it wasn’t long until Tess’s brother was home again and doing well.

b. One day as the family was happily talking about the chain of events that had led them to this place health and harmony, Tess’s mom said, “That surgery was a real miracle. I wonder how much it would have cost?”

c. Tess smiled and said, “It cost one dollar and eleven cents.” …plus the faith of a little child.

B. I don’t know if that story is true or not, but I know that desperation and the hope for a miracle are powerful and can lead to a demonstration of faith.

1. Vance Havner said: “Holy desperation is the door to God’s greatest blessings. Those who proved him best in the Scriptures were at the end of everything.”

2. That is certainly the case in the stories of two people we will explore in today’s section from the Gospel of Mark.

3. Both people had come to the end of everything, and their desperate faith took them to Jesus.

4. Today we will complete this section of Mark that focuses on the miracles of Jesus that help us to understand who Jesus is and what Jesus can do.

5. Jesus is God in the flesh and the miracles of this section show His power over nature and power over a large demonic presence.

6. In today’s section, we will see Jesus heal someone with a long-term illness that had baffled doctors, and we will see Him defeat our greatest enemy – death.

7. Who is Jesus? He is the God who can overcome the dangers of the deep, the dangers of demons and disease, and the danger of death!

8. But beyond Jesus’ incomparable power, we also see His mercy, gentleness, and love.

9. Both Jesus’ greatness and His goodness are on display, side by side, in these two miracles.

10. Let’s explore today’s section like it is a play with three acts.

I. Act One: A Desperate Father’s Plea

A. Mark wrote: 21 When Jesus had crossed over again by boat to the other side, a large crowd gathered around him while he was by the sea. 22 One of the synagogue leaders, named Jairus, came, and when he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet 23 and begged him earnestly, “My little daughter is dying. Come and lay your hands on her so that she can get well and live.” 24 So Jesus went with him, and a large crowd was following and pressing against him. (Mk. 5:21-24)